“No.” Changsheng’s mother was not that kind of person, “I like Xiao Yan too, although her face is ruined and she has a limp, she’s a diligent and sensible child. I certainly don’t hate her, but she doesn’t seem to have that kind of interest in Changsheng.”
They shared a daily life after all. Plus she was experienced. How could she not understand that Xiao Yan treated her as an elder and Changsheng as a family member instead of a man.
“You can’t rush into things.” Xiao Song’s mother knew how to deal with this situation as she herself had a daughter-in-law, “A wife must be virtuous. Look at all those families and see how many fights they have just because they married a bad wife. They have spent so much money during marriages, but in the end the wives ran away with other people. Their sons are still bachelors now, even if they want to remarry, people will dislike them for being married once. They’ll just stay single if they don’t remarry.” Xiao Song’s mother thought Xiao Yan was a good kid. She figured there was no need for a pretty face as long as she was a nice person.
However, it was Changsheng after all. He was a great man in their village, coupled with his good-looking and tall physique. Besides, he was hardworking. A guy like him would surely have no problem getting a wife. Xiao Yan did not seem like a suitable match for him.
“Oh yeah.” Xiao Song’s mother finally recalled her main concern. They had branched off from the subject after all the chattering.
“I have something to tell you,” Xiao Song’s mother leaned over and whispered.
“Do you want to let Xiao Yan open a hair salon in our village?”
“A hair salon?” That thought had never occurred to Changsheng’s mother.
“That’s right, a hair salon.” Xiao Song’s mother said while touching her short hair, she was fairly satisfied with her hairstyle. Thinking about those who received haircuts from Yan Huan, it might be assumed that no one went home unsatisfied.
“Yes, a hair salon.” Xiao Song’s mother repeated.
“Look at our village, the number of villagers is not too much and not too little.With all the people from the dozen families, there are hundreds of inhabitants in the village. We lack everything here, especially an artisan. Though we used to have Third Aunt who is willing to give us free haircuts, we still have to give her something in return every time we go.”
“Precisely.” Changsheng’s mother was aware of the situation as well. She would bring along a generous amount of rice vermicelli whenever she went for a haircut. Just as Xiao Song’s mother said before, the village was very small and lacked everything, they really needed an artisan.
“You see…” Xiao Song’s mother shared her perception of the situation with Changsheng’s mother. “As a matter of fact, opening a hair salon won’t cost much more than buying a set of tools. Since Third Aunt can’t cut hair anymore due to her health issues, you can just get the tools from Third Aunt. She hasn’t used her scissors for two years, perhaps she doesn’t want to do it anymore.”
“After your hair salon is opened, we can go and get our hair cut. Those who have money will pay you money, whereas those who don’t have money can give you something else in return, just like with Third Aunt. This can help replenish your household supplies. Seeing Xiao Yan picking firewood every day, I know she’s an ambitious child. She’s finding a way to pay you back because she doesn’t feel at ease to simply mooch off of you.”
“Exactly.” Changsheng’s mother let out another sigh, “I know she’s kind-hearted, or else, she wouldn’t be the earliest one to wake up every morning. She finishes all the chores in the house, leaving me, this old lady, with nothing else to do for the rest of the day.”
“Discuss with her about my suggestion, it’ll be great if she agrees with it. She won’t have to pick firewood in the heavy snow anymore. She’s just a young lady, look what happened to her in the freezing snow. Even I feel bad for her that her hands have turned into a radish, a parentless child is indeed pitiful.”
Changsheng’s mother felt sorry for Yan Huan upon listening to her words, although she had no parents, she was an aspiring kid.
When Yan Huan returned with firewood on her back, Changsheng’s mother had already prepared the meal. She cooked some noodles and made a huge pot of soup noodles with some leftover vegetables. It was very delicious, or perhaps everything tasted so good and tasty because she was starving.
Yan Huan helped to serve the dishes to the table and Changsheng came back from the fields not long after. His forehead was beaded with sweat, even though it was winter. He hastily wiped away the sweat with a towel before sitting down to eat.
Yan Huan did not eat much, all she needed was a small bowl of rice so that she would not starve herself to death. Although she had been staying at Changsheng’s house for quite a while, she never ate heartily.
She was afraid that other people would see her as a freeloader and Changsheng’s family would feel uncomfortable. Thus, most of the dishes on the table were eaten by Changsheng.
Yan Huan rolled up her sleeves to wash all the pots and bowls. Her hands were still freezing, sometimes they were awfully numb and itchy, sometimes they were painfully swollen. Lu Yi had never even let her do the dishes. He would either wash it himself or let the dishwasher do the work. She wondered how he would feel if he were to know about what she was doing with her hands right now.
The little flower that he had given attentive care was already fading.
“Xiao Yan.” The sudden voice of Changsheng’s mother interrupted Yan Huan’s thoughts, she looked up and smiled at Changsheng’s mother.
“What is it, Auntie?”
“It’s actually no big deal.” Changsheng’s mother was wondering how to tell Yan Huan about it.
“Xiao Yan, Aunt Xiao Song came just now and she told me something. Can I ask for your opinion about it?”
“Sure.” Yan Huan smiled but her hand was in the pot. She cleaned it thoroughly, then the bowls and plates.
Changsheng’s mother rolled up her sleeves as well and started washing dishes with Yan Huan while talking.
“Aunt Xiao Song asked whether you want to open a hair salon in the village and give the villagers haircuts without taking any money. You can just take whatever they have when they come for a haircut. What do you think?”
Yan Huan was holding the tablecloth in her hand, shivering slightly. She never envisaged that there would come a day when her haircut skill was acknowledged by the villagers.
Hmm, it seems like a good idea. She never expected to make a living with this skill. However, so long as she could help Changsheng’s family financially, it was acceptable for her to just take some food or anything else from the villagers. Even though she could not get much, at least she would not be a freeloader. She could stay and feel at ease without having to worry about people chasing her away.
